LGBTI News and Politics

Archive for January, 2014

It was all about the love… and the robot-helmeted Frenchmen who made off with the night’s biggest award.

From Beyoncé and Jay Z opening the 2014 Grammys with a sizzling duet that proved why they’re the most powerful — and sexiest — couple in the music biz, to Macklemore’s mass wedding/performance of his hit “Same Love,” Valentine’s Day came early with sultry and sweet Grammy performances.

And the three-hour-plus telecast packed with superstar performances and superstar pairings ended with a surprise Album of the Year winner: “Random Access Memories” by French electronic music duo Daft Punk, the robot-attired act who charged collaborator Pharrell Williams with making their acceptance speeches for their five Grammy wins.

Here, our breakdown of the highs and relatively few lows of the 56th Annual Grammy Awards:

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Indiana House members appear to be divided on a proposal to put a gay marriage ban in the Indiana Constitution.

The House is scheduled to begin debate on HJR-3 on Monday. A House vote could take place later today.

According to a poll conducted by The Indianapolis Star, 38 lawmakers said they plan to vote for the amendment, while 38 said they plan to vote against it. Thirteen representatives said they were undecided and 11 refused to answer.

Responding to the January 23 announcement that the Commonwealth of Virginia will no longer defend that state’s constitutional and statutory ban on marriage equality, the federal district court judge presiding over one of two pending challenges there has indicated she is prepared to rule based on written briefs that have been submitted in the case.

Following Attorney General Mark Herring’s announcement that his office has concluded the state’s policy on gay marriage violates the 14th Amendment rights of same-sex couples, District Judge Arenda Allen, citing “the compelling Notice from the Office of the Attorney General,” notified parties that she now longer sees a need for oral arguments scheduled for January 30.

She directed all parties to respond as to whether they believe oral arguments are necessary or “whether the Court should instead rule promptly on the briefs without a hearing.” The clear suggestion is that argument would be appropriate only to articulate points not already made in the written briefs.

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The Project TAG Masked Mardi Gras Ball is the biggest event of the year. It will be held in the ballrooms of the Holiday Inn South Broadway. The date is Saturday March 1, 2014 6:30pm to midnight. This is a fundraiser for Project TAG so that we can continue to provide services for the East Texas LGBT Community.

Masks are not required but will add to tthe fun of the evening.

Admission will be $35 per person, $25 for students if purchased before Febraury 25th. The price at the door will be $40. Ticket price will include dinner, dancing, DJ, and a cash bar. Tickets are now on sale from any Board Member or on the website at : https://www.tylerareagays.com/mardi-gras-masked-ball.html . For those of you that wish to come for the dance portion only, a special price of $10 will be charged at the door AFTER 9pm !

To order by check or money order, make them out to Project TAG and mail to: Project TAG P O Box 6331 Tyler, TX 75711. Mail order tickets will be returned the next day.

We are also looking for sponsors to help underwrite the cost of this event. Levels are :

President Barack Obama while speaking about the government’s surveillance practices during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington, Jan. 17, 2014. (Photo: Stephen Crowley / The New York Times)

When considering the revolutionary history of the United States, most would think of fighting for freedom, the enshrinement of basic human and civil rights in a constitutional government of the people, by the people and for the people.

But in his speech on reforms to the NSA and the United States’ intelligence gathering systems last week, President Obama had a creative new addition to the legacy of the American Revolution: surveillance.

“At the dawn of our Republic, a small, secret surveillance committee borne out of the Sons of Liberty was established in Boston,” said the president. “And the group’s members included Paul Revere. At night, they would patrol the streets, reporting back any signs that the British were preparing raids against America’s early Patriots.”

The mayor of Sochi is under the impression that there are no gay people in his city.

Anatoly Pakhomov spoke with the BBC ahead of the 2014 Winter Olympics and discussed how gay people would be treated in the Russian region with the country’s “homosexual propaganda” law in place. Pakhomov said gays are welcome at the Games in spite of this, so long as they “respect the laws of the Russian Federation and [don’t] impose their habits on others.”